Named Areas at the Library

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library

The SolariumPresented by Patricia Bittner Trefz Swigart, Patricia Hall Krow, Stephen Robert Hall and Families In Loving Memory of Harry G. Trefz and John E. and Myrna Eby Bittner

Harry G. Trefz was born and reared in Shillington, Berks County. He graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Following his service with the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II, where he was awarded the Silver Star and was the recipient of the Purple Heart, he moved to Hummelstown to work at the former Stump Funeral Home. Two years later he purchased the funeral home and ran the Trefz Funeral Home with the help of his first wife, Emily Kindt Trefz until her death in 1976. In 1977 Harry married the former Patricia Bittner Hall and continued serving families until his death in 1988. Patricia and her son, Stephen Robert Hall and her daughter, Patricia Hall Krow continued this service until 1989 when they purchased the former Bowser Funeral Home and formed the Trefz and Bowser Funeral Home, Inc.

Harry was very active in many local and area organizations. He was a Past President for the Hummelstown Rotary Club where he chaired the first Learn to Swim program, served as liaison for the American Red Cross for service to military families, served as chairman for their Bloodmobile, served as Community Service Officer for the Salvation Army, and was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hummelstown and served on the church council.

Harry had many interests including traveling and vacationing at the ocean. He also loved automobiles having a major interest in Henry J’s. At one time many local citizens wishing to dispose of their ‘now obsolete’ Henry J’s sold them to Harry. He later owned 22 of these. He was a member of many Antique and Classic car clubs including the Antique Automobile Club of America, the Hershey Antique Car Club and the Zembo Shrine Antique and Classic Car Unit.

His main interest was to help all families at their time of need no matter their emotional or financial ability.

John E. and Myrna Eby Bittner moved to Hummelstown in 1940. John was from Lock Haven and graduated from the former Beckley College in Harrisburg. After working for the State of Pennsylvania he was Chief in Charge of Civilian Personnel Training for the Air Force with his office at the Middletown Air Force Base.

John was very active as a Freemason, serving not only as Master of his lodge but also on many committees and as a member of Zembo Shrine having been Past President of the Hershey Shrine Club. He was also a member of the Lower Dauphin School board and the planning committee for the Harrisburg Area Community College.

Myrna Eby Bittner, formerly from Lemoyne was also a graduate of Beckley College and served as secretary for the late Robert E. Woodside, Esq. and for former Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot where she met John. Myrna was very active in the Hummelstown Woman’s Club and the former Hummelstown Flower and Garden Club serving as President and as a judge for many local flower shows. She delighted in making scrapbooks of her grandchildren and their activities as well as of the many trips that she and John took.

John and Myrna were both members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hummelstown with both being teachers in the Sunday School and John as a member and former president of the Church Council and Sunday School Superintendent. They were both active in the Hummelstown Area Historical Society.

Their interest in antique cars brought many years of touring and many friendships all over the country. They were members of the Antique Automobile Club of America where John served on numerous committees setting up the present day judging system, and the Hershey Antique Automobile Club where he was a Past President and was also Past President of the Zembo Antique and Classic Car Unit.

In Loving Memory of these three exceptional persons, Pat, Patti, and Steve can find no better way to honor their love and guidance than by donating the Solarium.